Each night, 25-year-old student Jeong Seung-won sits at his desk and reads handwritten letters from strangers, posted on a website called Warmth Mailbox. The letters, written by people from all walks of life—teenagers overwhelmed by school, retirees battling loneliness—are answered with care by trained volunteers like Jeong. Each reply is two to three pages long, handwritten, and rooted in empathy and personal experience.
Launched in 2017 by Seoul-based nonprofit Ongi, the initiative now includes over 80 drop-off points in cafes, hospitals, parks, and campuses across South Korea. In a society known for high academic pressure and a lingering stigma around therapy, this analogue project offers a comforting alternative for emotional support. About 30% of participants report feeling comforted after receiving a reply, according to Ongi founder Cho Hyun-sik.
South Korea continues to report the highest suicide rate among OECD countries, with suicide being the leading cause of death for teenagers. Depression and anxiety rates are rising, especially among the youth and elderly. In this context, Warmth Mailbox serves as a vital psychological outlet. Psychologist Kim Hyewon from Hoseo University notes that handwritten responses provide deeply personal, judgment-free support. While younger generations are more open to therapy, older individuals often remain hesitant, making alternatives like this crucial.
The premise is simple: writers share their worries in a letter, drop it in a yellow envelope at a mailbox, and wait for a handwritten reply. Emily Kim, a university student, recalls how receiving a response helped her feel less alone during a tough time. Volunteers like Jeong say the process is healing for them too, offering self-reflection and growth.
The initiative is gaining traction, with 800 volunteers writing over 20,000 letters annually. Cho says the inspiration came from a Japanese novel, and he hopes the concept will expand globally. Already, Warmth Mailbox is collaborating with companies like CGV to set up mailboxes in cinemas.
For Cho and his team, it’s about offering a space for genuine human connection in an increasingly disconnected world. As Jeong puts it, “I just hope they’ll feel better. We all need a bit of warmth to see the world’s beauty.”
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